After 11 months of planning, the fifth annual Touched Twice Clinic was held on Saturday, September 12. The week before the event, there was a huge amount of hard work preparing for our guests. Clothing was sorted, folded and stacked—transforming our MPR room into a huge clothes closet filled with attire for all sizes and seasons.  The narthex became a housewares area filled with blankets, comforters, sheets, towels, dishes, decorations and everything else to help make a home feel more warm and inviting.

Families started lining up as early as 7:00 a.m. patiently waiting for registration to begin.  By the end of the day, our church had welcomed over 549 guests in just a few short hours.  Registration worked as a well-oiled machine as they efficiently ensured new processes were followed.  Advocates cheerfully welcomed guests and guided them to the gym where the gatekeeper team coordinated the appointments and services for hundreds of guests in need of medical, vision and dental care along with blood pressure and glucose testing, haircuts and massages.  While our guests waited for their services, they were encouraged to have their nails painted, talk with volunteers from the Healing Hearts ministry, enjoy a simple craft, browse through magazines, and perhaps have a family photo taken at our photo booth.  The kitchen team worked tirelessly to serve over 700 hotdogs in less than 90 minutes.  Our youth carried many bags, offered their Spanish translation skills, helped in childcare and served as advocates.  Over 220 volunteers ensured that each guest felt the love of Christ as we shared compassion and care while guiding our guests through The Clinic.  The power of the Holy Spirit was felt in so many ways.  There are literally hundreds of stories to be shared in hopes that others will experience the blessing of serving others and sharing our blessings with our community. 

Here are just a few of those blessings:

• 125 full grocery bags were donated and an additional 30 bags were assembled for a group of homeless guests from Oregon Hill.
• We collected 149 bags of school supplies, and the smiles on our younger guests were priceless!
• 147 houseplants were shared with our guests.
• More than 20 Spanish translators were recruited this year, and we needed each and every volunteer.
• More than 70 church members served as advocates.  Their willingness to step outside their comfort zone and trust God’s call allowed more guests than ever to feel personally appreciated and welcomed.
• Three clowns volunteered their time.  Their presence was critical as they entertained the crowd outside (some of our guests waited outside in the warm sun for more than 2 hours and the clowns performed, interacted with, and shared balloons with guests of all ages).
• Five pairs of glasses were donated.  The first pair of glasses one of our guests tried on fit perfectly and she exclaimed, “I can finally READ!”
• Our ministers rolled up their sleeves and provided counseling to our guests — they also cooked hotdogs, directed traffic, moved tables, scrubbed floors and whatever else was needed.  So many volunteers stayed to help clean up the task was completed by 3:15 p.m.

Want to hear more? Ask anyone who served in the Clinic to share a story with you or check the church web site.  Start prayerfully considering how you will be involved in The Clinic in 2010!

Thank you hardly seems enough but from the bottom of our hearts, Kris, Martha, Beth and Rose are so grateful for all the contributions, both great and small, from our church family to make a difference in the Kingdom.  It truly took a village and months of prayer.